Cover for an adverisement structure

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are implementations, including a system comprising an advertising structure comprising a first board and a second board pivotably coupled to the first board along respective top edges of the boards such that when the boards are pivotably actuated from a folded to an unfolded position, the boards define a tent-shaped structure. The system further includes one or more handles coupled to the advertising structure at a first side of the advertising structure, and a cover structure comprising two sheets coupled to form an enclosure comprising a first opening of a first size to receive the advertising structure and the handles, and a second opening through which the handles displaced through the enclosure are received. The second opening is of a second size smaller than the first size to inhibit the advertising structure from passing through the second opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/546,657, filed on Aug. 17, 2017, thecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Advertisement boards and signs (e.g., of selling agents and companies)are expensive to produce and regularly need to be replaced. Whensubjected to prolonged use, such as being placed into a car trunk orstored in a storage area, e.g., garage-like area, piled on top of eachother, etc., the boards may be bumped up against one another, resultingin the scratching of the paint and gloss of these advertisement boardsand signs. The advertisement boards and signs also need to be regularlymoved, and consequently the boards and signs can be damaged and may nolonger be legible (and thus lose the effectiveness of their purpose,e.g., legibility deteriorates and detracts from the image of thecompany).

SUMMARY

In some variations, a system (or assembly) is provided that includes anadvertising structure comprising a first board and a second board, thefirst board pivotably coupled to the second board along respective topedges of the first board and the second board such that when the firstand second board are pivotably actuated from a first folded position toa second unfolded position, the first board and the second boardpivotably coupled to the first board define a tent-shaped structure. Thesystem further includes one or more handles coupled to the advertisingstructure at a first side of the advertising structure, and a coverstructure comprising two sheets coupled to form an enclosure comprisinga first opening of a first size to receive the advertising structure andthe one or more handles coupled to the advertising structure, and asecond opening through which the one or more handles displaced throughthe enclosure are received. The second opening is of a second sizesmaller than the first size to inhibit the advertising structure frompassing through the second opening.

Embodiments of the system may include at least some of the featuresdescribed in the present disclosure, including one or more of thefollowing features.

The first board and the second board may be rectangular boards.

The cover structure may define a rectangular bag with first twoopposite-facing sides and second two opposite-facing sides, with thefirst opening being located at one of the first two opposite-facingsides and the second opening is located at another of the first twoopposite-facing sides.

Each of the first two opposite-facing sides of the cover structure mayinclude a length of between 25 and 35 inches, and each of the second twoopposite facing sides of the cover structure may include a length ofbetween 20 and 30 inches.

Each of the two sheets of the cover structure may include one or moreof, for example, a plastic-based flexible sheet layer, a nylon-basedflexible sheet layer, a fabric-based flexible sheet layer, and/or afelt-based flexible sheet layer.

Each of the two sheets may include at least two attached sheet layers,with each of the sheet layers including one or more of, for example aplastic-based flexible sheet layer, a nylon-based flexible sheet layer,a fabric-based flexible sheet layer, and/or a felt-based flexible sheetlayer.

The at least two attached sheet layers may each include an outer sheetwith an exterior surface defining a visible exterior of the coverstructure, and one or more felt lining surfaces affixed to an interiorsurface of the outer sheet to prevent the respective outer sheet of eachof the two sheets of the cover structure from adhering to each other.The one or more felt lining surfaces may include multiple felt liningstrips affixed to edges of the interior surface of the outer sheet.

The two sheets coupled to form an enclosure may be coupled using one ormore of, for example, sawing thread, coupling staples, and/or adhesivematerials.

The cover structure may further include a closing mechanism to close, atleast partly, the first opening. The closing mechanism may include oneor more of, for example, at least one magnet disposed on a first one ofthe two sheets of the cover structure and at least one other magnetdisposed on the second one of the two sheets of the cover structure withthe two magnets configured to be magnetically coupled to each other,and/or Velcro strips respectively secured to the two sheets of the coverstructure and configured to be mechanically coupled to each other toclose the first opening of the cover structure.

In some variations, a bag to cover a displaceable advertising structureis disclosed. The bag includes a first sheet, and a second sheet coupledto the first sheet using a coupling mechanism to form an enclosurecomprising a first opening of a first size to receive the displaceableadvertising structure coupled to one or more handles, with thedisplaceable advertising structure comprising a first board and a secondboard, the first board pivotably coupled to the second board alongrespective top edges of the first board and the second board such thatwhen the first and second board are pivotably actuated from a firstfolded position to a second unfolded position, the first board and thesecond board pivotably coupled to the first board define a tent-shapedstructure. The enclosure formed by the first sheet and the second sheetfurther includes a second opening through which the one or more handlesdisplaced through the enclosure are received, the second opening beingof a second size smaller than, the first size to inhibit the advertisingstructure from passing through the second opening.

Embodiments of the bag (or cover structure) may include at least some ofthe features described in the present disclosure, including at leastsome of the features described above in relation to the system.

Other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from thefollowing description, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-B are different views of an example system comprising anadvertisement structure received within a cover structure (bag).

FIGS. 2A-B are different views of another example system comprising anadvertisement structure received within a cover structure (bag).

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are cover structures/devices (e.g., bags), andassemblies comprising such cover structures, to cover and protect, forexample, advertisement signs such as tent signs (e.g., “open house” tentsigns that can be unfolded to form a tent-like structure). A coverstructure (or simply “cover” or “bag”) is configured to slip off andslips on just before putting the sign in/out of storage (e.g., a trunkof a car used to transport the advertisement sign or placement in astorage area). The cover structure is configured to protect anadvertisement sign from wear and tear (e.g., to maintain paint or glosson the tent sign, when protected by this cover, in a condition asclosely as possible to the condition of a new sign). The use of thesystems and cover structures described herein reduces the need toreplace advertisement boards/advertisement signs, thus allowing apurchaser of an advertisement board/sign to not have to replace the signfor many years. In some embodiments, the cover structure may beconstructed from fabrics/materials that include, for example, plasticwith felt backing (of different colors, such as black and white). Insome embodiments, the cover structure may be constructed from clearheavy plastic. The fabric sheets used (e.g., plastic or some othermaterial) may be sewn together leaving, for example, a 6 inch opening atthe top for handles to easily slide through. The cover structure mayinclude a slightly weighted hemmed bottom for ease of slipping the coverover the sign. The cover structure's dimensions may be such that a widthof the cover structure is between 25 and 35 inches (and in oneparticular embodiment, may be 27-29 inches across), and a length ofbetween 20 and 30 inches (and in a particular embodiment, may beapproximately 22-24 inches down).

Accordingly, in some embodiments, a bag to cover a displaceableadvertising structure is provided. The bag includes a first sheet, and asecond sheet coupled to the first sheet using a coupling mechanism toform an enclosure comprising a first opening of a first size to receivethe displaceable advertising structure coupled to one or more handles.The displaceable advertising structure (that the bag/cover structurecovers) includes a first board and a second board, the first boardpivotably coupled to the second board along respective top edges of thefirst board and the second board such that when the first and secondboard are pivotably actuated from a first folded position to a secondunfolded position, the first board and the second board pivotablycoupled to the first board define a tent-shaped structure. The enclosureformed by the first sheet and the second sheet of the bag furtherincludes a second opening through which the one or more handlesdisplaced through the enclosure are received, the second opening beingof a second size smaller than the first size to inhibit the advertisingstructure from passing through the second opening.

In some additional implementations, a system (or assembly) is providedthat includes an advertising structure comprising a first board and asecond board, the first board pivotably coupled to the second boardalong respective top edges of the first board and the second board suchthat when the first and second board are pivotably actuated from a firstfolded position to a second unfolded position, the first board and thesecond board pivotably coupled to the first board define a tent-shapedstructure. The system further includes one or more handles coupled tothe advertising structure at a first side of the advertising structure,and a cover structure comprising two sheets coupled to form an enclosurecomprising a first opening of a first size to receive the advertisingstructure and the one or more handles coupled to the advertisingstructure, and a second opening through which the one or more handlesdisplaced through the enclosure are received. The second opening is of asecond size smaller than the first size to inhibit the advertisingstructure from passing through the second opening.

Thus, with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, different views of an examplesystem 100 comprising an advertisement structure (in this case atent-sign) 110 received within a cover structure (bag) 130 is shown. Theadvertising structure 110 includes a first board 112 and a second board(not visible in FIG. 1 or 2), with the first board 112 pivotably coupledto the second board 114 along respective top edges (FIG. 1B shows a topedge 116 of the board 112; the second board would have a top edge thatcouples to the top edge 116 of the first board 112). The first board 112and the second board may be rectangular boards, but may have othershapes. The boards may be constructed from a variety of differentmaterials, such as plastic, cardboard, fiberglass, foamboard, wood, woodcomposite, etc. Typically, one of the boards will include advertisingand/or decorative information (in this example, the information pertainsto “Open House” advertisement). The first board's shape and/ordimensions may be different from the second board's shape and/ordimensions. In some embodiments, the boards of the advertising structuremay have legs, or other support structures, extending from the baseportion of the boards. Thus, for example, in FIGS. 1A and 1B, legs 114a-b extend from the board 112. Similar legs may extend from the other(second) board pivotably coupled to the first board 112. As noted, thefirst board 112 is pivotably coupled to the second board in such a waythat when the first and second board are pivotably actuated from a firstfolded position (in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the first board and the secondboard are depicted in their folded position) to a second unfoldedposition, the first board and the second board (pivotably coupled to thefirst board) define a tent-shaped structure.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 1A-B, the advertising sign may beprotected by placing it in a cover structure (e.g., bag) 130 comprisingat least two sheets 132 and 134 coupled to form an enclosure comprisinga first opening 150 of a first size to receive the advertising structure(such as the advertising structure 110, or some other advertisingstructure) and one or more handles (as more particularly shown in FIGS.2A and 2B) coupled to the advertising structure. In the example FIG. 1A,the bag is constructed from transparent material (thus allowing theinformation written on the first board 112 to be visible through thebag). The cover structure 130 also defines a second opening (as alsoillustrated in FIGS. 2A-B) through which the one or more handles arereceived. The second opening is of a second size smaller than the firstsize to inhibit the advertising structure (such as the advertisingstructure 110) from passing through the second opening.

In some embodiments, the cover structure 130 may define a rectangularbag with first two opposite-facing sides 140 and 142 and second twoopposite-facing sides 136 and 138, with the first opening being locatedat one of the first two opposite-facing sides 140 and 142 and the secondopening being located at another of the first two opposite-facing sides(140 and 142). Depending on the specific configuration of the bag, thefirst two opposite facing sides may be shorter or longer than the secondtwo opposite-facing sides. For example, in some embodiments, the firsttwo opposite-facing sides 140 and 142 (where the first and secondopenings may be defined) may have example dimensions of between 25 and35 inches, while the other (second) two opposite-facing sides (136 and138) may have a length of between 20-30 inches.

Each of the two sheets 132 and 134 of the cover structure may includeone or more of, for example, a plastic-based flexible sheet layer, anylon-based flexible sheet layer, a fabric-based flexible sheet layer,and/or a felt-based flexible sheet layer. In some embodiments, each ofthe two sheets may include (e.g., may be constituted from) at least twoattached sheet layers (and in some cases, more than two layers mayconstitute each sheet with each of the sheet layers including one of,for example, a plastic-based flexible sheet layer, a nylon-basedflexible sheet layer, a fabric-based flexible sheet layer, and/or afelt-based flexible sheet layer. In the example system 100 depicted inFIGS. 1A-B, each of the sheets 132 and 134 is made from one or morelayers of clear, flexible plastic. The two sheets of the cover structure130 are coupled to each other to form the enclosure 150 (into which theadvertisement sign is received) using one or more of, for example,sewing threads, coupling staples, adhesive materials, or some othercoupling material or mechanism. In another example, two sheets ofpolyester felt lining layer may be attached to the respective innersides of the sheets 132 and 134 of the cover structure 130 (i.e., thesides that directly face each other and define the inner walls of thecover structure 130). The felt lining sheets may have dimensions similarto those of the sheets 132 and 134 and may be congruently affixed (e.g.,by gluing, sewing, stapling, etc.) to the inner sides of the sheets 132and 134 to prevent or inhibit the sheets 132 and 134 from adhering toeach other. In other examples, multiple strips of the felt lining sheetsmay be affixed to approximately the edges of the inner sides of thesheets 132 and 134 to inhibit the sheets 132 and 134 from adhering toeach other, while requiring less felt lining material to achieve thisfunctionality. Alternatively, the felt lining layer may be structuredaccording to different shapes and aesthetic choices (such as color). Forexample, the felt lining sheets or strips may have a white color thatcreates an aesthetically pleasing contrast with dark (e.g., black)colored sheets used to form the sheets 132 and 134.

Thus, in some embodiments, at least two attached sheet layers may eachinclude an outer sheet with an exterior surface defining a visibleexterior of the cover structure, and one or more felt lining surfacesaffixed to an interior surface of the outer sheet to prevent the outersheet of each of the two sheets of the cover structure from adhering toeach other. The one or more felt lining surfaces may include multiplefelt lining strips affixed to edges of the interior surface of the outersheet.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the cover structure 130 mayfurther include, in some implementations, a closing mechanism to close,at least partly, the first opening. For example, the cover structure mayinclude a magnet-based closing mechanism that comprises at least onemagnet 160 disposed on a first one of the two sheets, and at least oneother magnet 162 disposed on the second one of the two sheets of thecover structure, with the two magnets configured to be magneticallycoupled to each other. The closing mechanism may also include,additionally or alternatively, a Velcro-based mechanism comprisingVelcro strips respectively secured to the two sheets of the coverstructure and configured to be mechanically coupled to each other toclose the first opening of the cover structure. Other types of closingmechanisms (to at least partly close the first opening) may be used. Theclosing mechanism may impede the advertisement structure 110, once ithas been placed within the enclosure 150 defined by the coupled sheets132 and 134 of the cover structure 130, from slipping out of theenclosure.

FIG. 2A shows another example system 200 that may be similar to thesystem 100 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In the example system 200, astructure 210, which may be similar to the advertisement structure 110of FIGS. 1A-B, is placed within the cover structure (bag) 230. Theadvertisement structure 210 includes two boards (not visible in FIG. 2Aor 2B) that are pivotably coupled at one end, and are configured to beunfolded to form a tent-shaped structure. Extending from each of theboards are legs 220 a and 222 a (from a first board), and legs 220 b and222 b (from the other board).

The cover structure 230 may be similar to the cover structure 130,except that the material comprising the sheets coupled together to formthe cover structure 230 may include a black-colored material (e.g.,plastic) which may be lined, on the interior face of the sheet, with afelt-backing. In FIG. 2B, a system 250, which may be similar to thesystem 200, is shown, in which the cover structure 260 (which may besimilar to the cover structure 230) is constructed from a white-coloredmaterial (e.g., plastic). As shown in both FIGS. 2A and 2B, the systems200 and 250 each includes a set of handles 240 and 270, respectively,that are attached to the respective advertisement structures. Thehandles 240 and 270 are passed through respective openings 242 and 272of the cover structures 230 and 260 (these openings are smaller than theopenings at the opposite side of the cover structures 230 and 260), andallow the entire system (advertisement structure, cover structure, andhandles) to be easily moved and transported from one location toanother.

In operation, an advertisement structure, such as the advertisementstructure 110, which is attached to handles such as the handles 240 ofFIG. 2A, is passed through a first (large) opening defined in a coverstructure (such as the cover structure 130 of FIG. 1A). Theadvertisement structure is displaced through the enclosure of the coverstructure until the handles emerge through a smaller opening at theopposite side of the cover structure. Optionally, a closing mechanismmay be actuated to close the larger opening in the cover structure(e.g., the closing mechanism may be implemented using magnets, Velcrostrips, etc.), and the entire system/assembly can then be carried away.At a location where the advertisement structure is to be displayed, theclosing mechanism is opened, and the advertisement structure isretracted, via the larger opening in the cover structure, from theenclosure of the cover structure.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly or conventionally understood. As usedherein, the articles “a” and “an” refer to one or to more than one(i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By wayof example, “an element” means one element or more than one element.“About” and/or “approximately” as used herein when referring to ameasurable value such as an amount, a temporal duration, and the like,encompasses variations of ±20% or ±10%, ±5%, or +0.1% from the specifiedvalue, as such variations are appropriate in the context of the systems,devices, circuits, methods, and other implementations described herein.“Substantially” as used herein when referring to a measurable value suchas an amount, a temporal duration, a physical attribute (such asfrequency), and the like, also encompasses variations of ±20% or ±10%,±5%, or +0.1% from the specified value, as such variations areappropriate in the context of the systems, devices, circuits, methods,and other implementations described herein.

As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of itemsprefaced by “at least one of” or “one or more of” indicates adisjunctive list such that, for example, a list of “at least one of A,B, or C” means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B andC), or combinations with more than one feature (e.g., AA, AAB, ABBC,etc.). Also, as used herein, unless otherwise stated, a statement that afunction or operation is “based on” an item or condition means that thefunction or operation is based on the stated item or condition and maybe based on one or more items and/or conditions in addition to thestated item or condition.

Although particular embodiments have been disclosed herein in detail,this has been done by way of example for purposes of illustration only,and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of theappended claims, which follow. Some other aspects, advantages, andmodifications are considered to be within the scope of the claimsprovided below. The claims presented are representative of at least someof the embodiments and features disclosed herein. Other unclaimedembodiments and features are also contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: an advertising structurecomprising a first board and a second board, the first board pivotablycoupled to the second board along respective top edges of the firstboard and the second board such that when the first and second board arepivotably actuated from a first folded position to a second unfoldedposition, the first board and the second board pivotably coupled to thefirst board define a tent-shaped structure; one or more handles coupledto the advertising structure at a first side of the advertisingstructure; and a cover structure comprising two sheets coupled to forman enclosure comprising a first opening of a first size to receive theadvertising structure and the one or more handles coupled to theadvertising structure, and a second opening through which the one ormore handles displaced through the enclosure are received, wherein thesecond opening is of a second size smaller than the first size toinhibit the advertising structure from passing through the secondopening.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first board and thesecond board are rectangular boards.
 3. The system of claim 2, whereinthe cover structure defines a rectangular bag with first twoopposite-facing sides and second two opposite-facing sides, wherein thefirst opening is located at one of the first two opposite-facing sidesand the second opening is located at another of the first twoopposite-facing sides.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of thefirst two opposite-facing sides of the cover structure includes a lengthof between 25 and 35 inches, and wherein each of the second two oppositefacing sides of the cover structure includes a length of between 20 and30 inches.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the two sheets ofthe cover structure comprises one or more of: a plastic-based flexiblesheet layer, a nylon-based flexible sheet layer, a fabric-based flexiblesheet layer, or a felt-based flexible sheet layer.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein each of the two sheets comprises at least two attachedsheet layers, wherein each of the sheet layers comprises one of: aplastic-based flexible sheet layer, a nylon-based flexible sheet layer,a fabric-based flexible sheet layer, or a felt-based flexible sheetlayer.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least two attached sheetlayers each comprises: an outer sheet with an exterior surface defininga visible exterior of the cover structure, and one or more felt liningsurfaces affixed to an interior surface of the outer sheet to preventthe respective outer sheet of each of the two sheets of the coverstructure from adhering to each other.
 8. The system of claim 7, whereinthe one or more felt lining surfaces comprise multiple felt liningstrips affixed to edges of the interior surface of the outer sheet. 9.The system of claim 1, wherein the two sheets coupled to form anenclosure are coupled using one or more of: sawing thread, couplingstaples, or adhesive materials.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein thecover structure further comprises: a closing mechanism to close, atleast partly, the first opening.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein theclosing mechanism comprises one or more of: at least one magnet disposedon a first one of the two sheets of the cover structure and at least oneother magnet disposed on the second one of the two sheets of the coverstructure with the two magnets configured to be magnetically coupled toeach other, or Velcro strips respectively secured to the two sheets ofthe cover structure and configured to be mechanically coupled to eachother to close the first opening of the cover structure.
 12. A bag tocover a displaceable advertising structure, the bag comprising: a firstsheet; and a second sheet coupled to the first sheet using a couplingmechanism to form an enclosure comprising a first opening of a firstsize to receive the displaceable advertising structure coupled to one ormore handles, with the displaceable advertising structure comprising afirst board and a second board, the first board pivotably coupled to thesecond board along respective top edges of the first board and thesecond board such that when the first and second board are pivotablyactuated from a first folded position to a second unfolded position, thefirst board and the second board pivotably coupled to the first boarddefine a tent-shaped structure; wherein the enclosure formed by thefirst sheet and the second sheet further comprises a second openingthrough which the one or more handles displaced through the enclosureare received, the second opening being of a second size smaller than thefirst size to inhibit the advertising structure from passing through thesecond opening.
 13. The bag of claim 12, wherein the first sheet coupledto the second sheet define a rectangular enclosure with first twoopposite-facing sides and second two opposite-facing sides, wherein thefirst opening is located at one of the first two opposite-facing sidesand the second opening is located at another of the first twoopposite-facing sides.
 14. The bag of claim 13, wherein each of thefirst two opposite-facing sides of the bag includes a length of between25 and 35 inches, and wherein each of the second two opposite facingsides of the bag includes a length of between 20 and 30 inches.
 15. Thebag of claim 12, wherein the coupling mechanism to couple the firstsheet and the second sheet comprises one or more of: sawing thread,coupling staples, or adhesive materials.
 16. The bag of claim 12,wherein each of the two sheets comprises one or more of: a plastic-basedflexible sheet layer, a nylon-based flexible sheet layer, a fabric-basedflexible sheet layer, or a felt-based flexible sheet layer.
 17. The bagof claim 12, wherein each of the two sheets comprises at least twoattached sheet layers, wherein each of the sheet layers comprises oneof: a plastic-based flexible sheet layer, a nylon-based flexible sheetlayer, a fabric-based flexible sheet layer, or a felt-based flexiblesheet layer.
 18. The bag of claim 17, wherein the at least two attachedsheet layers each comprises: an outer sheet with an exterior surfacedefining a visible exterior of the cover structure, and one or more feltlining surfaces affixed to an interior surface of the outer sheet toprevent the respective outer sheet of each of the two sheets of thecover structure from adhering to each other.
 19. The bag of claim 12,further comprising: a closing mechanism to close, at least partly, thefirst opening.
 20. The bag of claim 19, wherein the closing mechanismcomprises one or more of: at least one magnet disposed on a first one ofthe two sheets of the cover structure and at least one other magnetdisposed on the second one of the two sheets of the cover structure withthe two magnets configured to be magnetically coupled to each other, orVelcro strips respectively secured to the two sheets of the coverstructure and configured to be mechanically coupled to each other toclose the first opening of the cover structure.